Letter to the editor: Question 2 will support teaching common sense, work ethic

The way for society to thrive is to provide opportunities to the next generation. A good public education enables people to contribute to sustainable progress and positive growth. Therefore, as a small-business owner and a father, I support Question 2, the Stand Up for Students initiative.

We have signs in my retail store that state: “We do not teach common sense.” I’m often amazed at the lack of motivation and common sense displayed by too many customers.

Many people never gain the motivation, confidence and work ethic that come from setting tasks and accomplishing goals.

Too many bad parents don’t get it; their children suffer and perpetuate the downward spiral with substance abuse and welfare.

Better education and encouragement are needed to help children succeed. Question 2 will provide public schools and educators with the funds necessary to ensure we continue to produce individuals who go on and do great things in the world.

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Neddman

I will post the following every time I see a letter or article on Question 2:

While I agree wholeheartedly with the end goal of supporting question 2, it is absolutely NOT the right way to reach that goal.

A yes vote on 2 might address the shortfall in the near term, but in the medium to long term it will do more harm than good on the revenue side. New Jersey tried something very similar in 2004, and they have seen a material exodus of people earning above the threshold they set. As a result, tax revenue there is down and they are scrambling to bring “high earners” back from New York and Pennsylvania to boost their tax base.

We need comprehensive tax reform. We need it in Maine and at the federal level. Let’s not temporarily hide the real issue by voting yes on 2. Question 2 is a losing proposition. Period. Full stop.

elvisisdead

Kicking the can down the road is not an option. Maine is not New Jersey.
They are different places. Begin your analysis there and go forward. Maine is very unique in its challenges. First and foremost: The oldest state.

Not just old, but poor, rural, cold, and increasingly in the grips of crippling addiction.

How do we fix it? Allowing the rich to keep as much of their money as possible!
Yes. I’m sure the Beans, Ciancettes, Wymans, and Sussman’s should be our biggest worries.

No. Wait. That’s absurd. We fix it by turning out class after class after class of high school graduate who are prepared to compete in the 2016 world. That means accepting the shoe shops, mills and tanneries are gone and never coming back. That means we have to teach kids about computers, tech, medical fields, skilled trades like engineering etc. All that takes money. Lots and lots of money that unfortunately the school distracts don’t have with aging buildings and towns full of elderly and aging people stretched to their limits on property taxes.
Someone has to pay. Will it be people making 200K plus, or 80 year old widows living on 1200$ a month in Social Security?
Elderly people who sleep with the oven door openin winter because they’re fuel assistance for the year was spent by February. Who skip prescriptions to buy food. Who depend on foodbanks…

You seem to have chosen the latter. How? And Why?

We have to start now. Better to have been yesterday, but now will have to do. No more platitudes. No more promises. Every day we fall a day behind. And eventually, there’s no catching up. We;re at the tipping point.

Archibald_Haddock

Why not everyone pays the surtax proportionately, if you support this? Or we examine whether throwing more money through government is a good solution to every budget issue. Many families this will apply to already lose close to half their income to taxes. It may sound like a great idea when you say hey we want more money and we’ll just take it from someone else. Also, the tax burden associated with living in Maine is a real consideration for people with options and making decisions as to where to live.

Neddman

You are correct, Maine is not New Jersey. I chose, and was able, to come home to Maine after living in New Jersey for several years. I love the abundance and variety of natural resources we have at our disposal. Maine’s proximity to world-class colleges and universities is a competitive advantage for attracting cutting edge businesses of the ilk you mention.

But we don’t attract those businesses, and you failed to mention why that is, so I will. It is because Maine is not in the least bit attractive from a fiscal perspective.

We should have

Archibald_Haddock

Higher taxes will probably be taken as an incentive to move to Maine for those who have a choice of where to be and to locate their businesses. I work with people who have these choices. I represent them. It is a problem for our State.

Neddman

Move to Maine or away from Maine? I have the choice as well, and if this passes I will establish residency in NH. Already working with a realtor in Rye, NH…

Archibald_Haddock

An additional $40,000 per year after tax (on a combined and blended basis) for me each year for the privilege of living in Maine. I was talking with my wife about this today and said maybe I could get a place in NH and spend less than 183 days of the year in Maine. Mountains, lake, or sea.

Neddman

Exactly, which is why I was clarifying if you meant to write, “…an incentive to move to Maine…” vs. “…an incentive to avoid Maine…” in your previous comment. I think I usually agree with you, so would be surprised if you intended the former.

Archibald_Haddock

Same thinking. I can’t believe it has come to where I am interested in this. I moved back here 20 years ago after being around the country and around the world. As for people thinking about coming here, it is a serious consideration. I would not do it again.

Neddman

We should share a beach house in Rye!

Agree, it is sad that we are looking seriously at this. Not our choice, but the numbers in Maine force our hand.

Archibald_Haddock

The way this referendum is presented, I think it is hopeless. Do you want to take someone else’s money to pay for the children? For 98% of the population, that will be an easy choice. So each successive appeal will be do you want to use the force of government to take from someone else. Of course. It changes a lot if the proposition is do you want to pay for this initiative that you support. But like so many things with mob rule, that won’t come until people realize it is too late. Of course it is supported by some of the biggest public employee unions. Essentially, they are demanding more union money. Now, in theory, the funds would be segregated, but it all goes into the same budget. Cover one set of expenses with confiscated dollars and free up other money for others. Slush. Shameful. Sad, but true.

morn’joe

Reading your comments between you and the neddman you are both living back in Maine because(?)….and now are considering your tax location elsewhere, yet keeping you Maine residence for the purpose of more money?

I guess the question to the both of you is why do you chose to live here in Maine at all?

Would love an honest answer or discussion since you both have lived here before, left and yet returned, and want to leave, yet keep property in Maine. Whats up with this? What is it you want or are looking for from the State of Maine?

Archibald_Haddock

I grew up here. It’s home. When I got engaged I decided with my now wife to come back. She had not ever really been here except for a few weekends I brought her up. We were both living away. The tax situation in the last several years has become ridiculous. Not a mere inconvenience, but like how in the hell are we going to pay these tax bills? That may seem an exaggeration, but paying close to $200K per year in taxes with 4 young daughters and all the rest, it is a problem. Yes, moving to NH would have saved about $40K after tax per year. So, in before tax dollars that is almost twice that amount. If I bought a piece of property in NH and established tax residency, there would be the inconvenience of maintaining another piece of property, but the tax savings would more than fund the investment. I am just starting to consider whether this makes sense. The taxes have become a major problem. Were I at a different stage and did not have 4 daughters between the ages of 7 and 15 who know this as home, I would probably pull the trigger pretty quickly.

Neddman

Nothing really new to add, though Mr. Haddock’s numbers are notably better then mine. Exactly why I told my children to get into finance as opposed to consulting – good on you, Archibald!

We need new, relevant business. Will not happen with the current situation, and with #2 (the irony is palpable) the landscape will be arid.

Archibald_Haddock

Though I should be loath to admit, I am but a humble lawyer. PE, exec comp., investment structures, m&a, and transactional stuff. As a friend early on said to me, I don’t own the pieces, I just move them around. I also get to tell people where and how they should move them. It’s a good gig. I am not really adding much to the local economy except my tax dollars and whatever good comes from the companies, investors, and individuals I help. It’s nice. You only get paid because people want to find you and pay you. Good stuff. I give away a lot of free advice and work. I feel better with a problem solved or something good created than when a check floats over the transom.

morn’joe

Pardon the interruption but how much do you make to pay $200,000 per year in taxes? And could I ask you for a very low interest rated loan of $100,000 for my own investments, I’ve a couple of ideas….

Where’s your accountant…busy stealing your $$$$$?

Talk to Donald he can show you how to save on your tax bill as any honest accountant can legally….

Archibald_Haddock

It’s the combined effect of federal, state, and real estate. federal comes to around 130, sometimes a little more, when you include employment and self-employment taxes. Basically no deduction available for state and local taxes (or for mortgage interest), so you end up paying federal income taxes on amounts you pay in taxes. It compounds and adds up fast. Add in state and local and you are comfortably north of 150. It really snuck up on us the last 3 years (this one included). Income did not change a lot, but taxes did. I have used accounting firms in town to go over things. For the last several years I have used HR Block software and had their in office tax professionals go through the returns. Sometimes they will find something overlooked and say “Look, I saved $600!” Which is great, it all counts. But it’s not quite what I hoping for when I walk in and say “Is this right? Maybe it’s right, but I sure hope it is not.”

wollydevil

Cut schools to the bear bone make class sizes bigger cut out all school activies . turn down heat in the schools

Archibald_Haddock

The unfortunate reality is that while education budgets have risen at rates that grossly outstrip the economy or COLI, results have not kept pace and the competitiveness of our education systems is down. We are paying more for less education. Or lower quality education.

wollydevil

it’s not the schools fault . They have rules to go by to push kids thru school or lose federal money

Archibald_Haddock

It’s all about the dollars. Schools are union run. The ranks of administrators and others who do not do much teaching have risen greatly contributing to the disparity between cost and result. Teachers who are pushing kids through school should be fired. I think very highly of the teachers I had (mostly, there were some just eating up oxygen and doing worse than not doing anything at all) and the ones who teach my children now. And I begrudge them nothing. It is a challenging profession and one that you can only be good at with dedication and good skills. Teaching is also competitive. It is not easy to get a job in a good system. But once you have a job in any system, it is hard to lose it. And all in, the pay is pretty good. Summer and school vacations, phenomenal benefits and pension, less stress and challenge than in many professions. Yes, teachers do a lot of things outside of the classroom, but relative to many other pursuits it is still a pretty sweet gig once you are in.

wollydevil

No unions do not run schools . teachers do what they are told to do just like you do at work . I went to a school board meeting and i ask the question do unions run the school and the super. said NO . in the summer time they might have 4 weeks of from school . Less stress who ate you kidding . I have a friend that’s a teacher and i ask him if the kids really push the line and he said YES he said you can not let your guard down at all . If that true how come teachers only last 5 years then quit

Archibald_Haddock

Some fair points. Schools report to their town elected boards. However, pretty much every employee of the school system is a member of one of the most powerful and political government employee unions in the country. Summer break is more than 4 weeks. School vacations are a nice perk too. And the benefits and pension packages are quite rich and expensive. So, essentially, the school boards are negotiating with the unions on most issues.

wollydevil

If so on get rich how come most teachers take summer jobs ? Let see schools get out the last week in just teachers spend another week at school closing up there class room . Now in the middle o August they are back in school getting there class room ready for school . Now they have to go to summer school to keep there certification every so often and some teach summer school . now as far as pay I don’t know how man schools do but you must have a master degree to teach . Now i talked with a teacher she teaches special need kids and with her certification she can only teach up to 5th grade . If she wants to teach higher grades she need to to school to get another certification .

Archibald_Haddock

Some take other jobs. One of the perks of not working full time. I didn’t intend to make this about teacher pay, but maybe I wandered into that. If the proposal was do we want everyone to pay an additional amount in taxes proportionate to their income to support the initiative, I would still have questions, but it would be less ugly. The way this is going to be presented on the ballot and received by 98% of the population is do you want to increase someone else’s taxes? Someone who is already paying a boatload more than you in taxes every year in absolute and proportion of income terms. I expect the great majority will say hell ya. Use the force of government to take more money from those families that aren’t mine.

wollydevil

Why don’t you go to a school meeting and tell them there pay needs to be lowered and perks as you call them taken away .

Archibald_Haddock

I am not proposing that. I am pointing out the appeal of this measure to the basest level of human nature and mob mentality. Take it from someone else. Screw them.

rightwinga

Get rid of “Public Schools” and go to an all private education system!

Dave matteson

Could someone please explain how a bunch of people voting to take money from other people to spend in any way teaches work ethic or common sense? Maybe the common sense it refers to is that if you’re lazy, have no ambition and are unsuccessful financially then you can simply expect others who worked harder and made better decisions in their lives to pay your bills for you. That’s why the working class votes republican and the ones on the dole vote democrat.